₦airaland Forum

.....advises Oshiomhole to stop heating up the polity



Edo PDP chieftain and youth advocate, Andrew Enantomhen has reacted to Senator Adams Oshiomhole's recent outing on Arise News TV.

Andrew Enantomhen in reaction, advised Senator Adams Oshiomhole to stick to his "failed third term guber bid" and not heat up the polity in Edo State.

"We all know that Adams Oshiomhole is the guber candidate of the APC in Edo State. We all know Adams Oshiomhole is trying to return to Osadebe House through his candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo who is as confused as to what exactly he is doing in the guber race in the first instance.

"Not to mince words, let me get straight to the issues. Adams Oshiomhole should stop trying to twist the facts. There is no any existing court judgement at any time that annulled Asue Ighodalo's gubernatorial candidacy as the PDP candidate. Where Adams Oshiomhole saw his own court judgement that he was emphasizing about on Arise News TV is definitely a figment of his imagination. It has no any place in fact and in reality.

"Adams Oshiomhole must not heat up the polity. We all wish him and his godson, Monday Okpebholo the very best, whichever of them is indeed in the guber race for the APC, but they must not heat up the polity under any guise. All Edo citizens are united under the banner of PDP and all Edo citizens including the good people of Edo North are all determined to vote for Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, come September 21, 2024 and a million of Adams Oshiomhole shall not be able to do anything to stop that determination of the good people of Edo State. The earlier Adams Oshiomhole accepts this fact the better for him and his godson and the APC altogether. Edo State is decided already. We are voting Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, come September 21, 2024," Andrew Enantomhen said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/edo-2024-andrew-enantomhen-counsels-oshiomhole-to-stick-to-his-failed-third-term-guber-bid-and-not-heat-up-the-polity/

… Says his ‘eating’ utterance spiked crisis

The Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD) has blamed the ongoing protests over economic hardships on the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, saying he must be held responsible if Nigeria failed.

The group alleges that the statement credited to Senator Akpabio wherein he declared that Nigerians can be protesting while they that are in government are eating spiked the protests that had just started when he commented.

According to the group’s National Coordinator, Dr Menike Johnson, the reckless utterance of Akpabio angered the youths who then alleged that the federal government is uncaring, inconsiderate, and detached from Nigerians.

The CPD further noted that Akpabio’s statement portrayed him as one with an agenda that is different from what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is preaching.

“Only this can account for his public opinion that Nigerians can be protesting while they in government are eating", the group stated.

...Calls for Restraint on the Use of Lethal Force by Police, Army, and DSS


Comrade Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately order the unconditional release of all hunger protesters detained by the police and other security forces.

In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Frank also urged the President to prevent further violence and the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters by law enforcement agencies.

He criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his antagonistic stance towards the protesters and suggested that President Tinubu should dismiss him if he continues to show disrespect towards Nigerian youths.

"Nigerians have the inalienable right to protest against government policies that adversely affect them and to demand changes for the collective good," Frank stated.

He acknowledged that while the ongoing protests are well-intentioned, they have been exploited by sponsored groups in some states, which have aimed to discredit the organizers and provide security forces with an excuse to suppress the demonstrations.

“This should not be the case. The vacation Judge in Abuja who curtailed the rights of protesters by unjustly restricting them to the Moshood Abiola Stadium and other public spaces in Lagos also ruled that the police and other security agencies should protect the protesters both in Abuja and other parts of the country," he noted.

Frank criticized the security forces for failing to adhere to the court’s order, which resulted in the unjust killings, arrests, brutalization, and incarceration of protesters, as well as the hijacking of protests by government-sponsored agents to perpetuate criminal acts.

"This situation must not be allowed to continue. The President must genuinely protect the youths who are protesting. He must approach the protesters like a father dealing with an angry child. After all, the youths have no other country to call their own."

As the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, Frank condemned FCT Minister Wike for obtaining a biased court order that sought to confine protesters to the Abuja Stadium. He also praised the courage of the demonstrators who defied the order.

"The enforcement of this unjust order has led to peaceful protesters being tear-gassed by the police, arrested, and detained in large numbers, alongside the harassment of journalists," Frank emphasized.

He warned that any further acts of aggression against peaceful protesters by the police and other security agencies could escalate tensions and provoke resistance from the protesters.

Frank called for the international community to closely monitor the ongoing protests and the security forces' brutal responses. He urged the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union to impose visa bans on the FCT Minister and the chiefs of police and the army responsible for the mistreatment of protesters.

Expressing condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, Frank urged the International Criminal Court to hold the Inspector General of Police and all Service Chiefs in Nigeria accountable for the killings of unarmed protesters in recent days.

He vowed to petition the ICC to prosecute Wike and the IGP for ordering the police to use tear gas and live ammunition against unarmed peaceful protesters in Abuja and Kano, respectively.

Frank urged the Federal Government to avoid using force against the protesters, stating that “only dialogue and peaceful engagements can bring the much-needed resolution to the protests.”


Source: https://naijagg.com/timi-frank-urges-president-tinubu-to-release-detained-protesters/

.....hails Nigerians for coming out for protest



Former spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has warned the Nigerian police to be professional in their conduct as the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria commences today, Thursday, August 1.

"For far too long, the Nigerian masses have endured more than can be imagined and it is cheering to see them stand up for their right to make demands on the Government from across North and South.

"I am getting reports of good outing in Lagos, Port Harcourt and parts of the North like Kano and Sokoto already," Timi Frank said.

"One thing I have further to say is to the Nigerian police. I urge the Nigerian police to be professional. The job of the Nigerian police is to protect the protesters and not to harm the protesters. We will not tolerate any overzealous police officer trying to hijack this protest for any reason whatsoever. Protest is a constitutional right and that right is currently being exercised by Nigerians and the Government and the police and the Armed forces must respect that constitutional right of Nigerians and provide protection for the protests and to try to hijack the protest under any guise," Timi Frank warned.


Source: https://naijagg.com/be-professional-your-job-is-to-protect-the-protesters-not-harm-the-protesters-timi-frank-warns-the-nigerian-police-nigerian-armed-forces/

Kogi Congress: Vote of No Confidence by LG Chairmen - a gathering of thieves, impostors and their collaborators, Group calls for their immediate arrest and prosecution.


July 30, 2024

Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate events unfolding in Kogi state as regards the congress which was meant to have taken place on the 27th July, 2024 in Kogi state.

For the records, we are not unaware that some desperate and self-serving politicians attempted to ruin the congress by hijacking electoral materials meant for the congress which led to the suspension of the congress by the state Party Caretaker Committee to forestall impending political crises.

We are appalled by the show of shame in the name of "vote of no confidence" by some party chairmen across the state.

African Youth Leadership Initiative wish to state unequivocally that the actions of these chairmen by association is nothing short of fraudulent, and impersonation which contravenes the provisions of the law.

Section 484 of the Code of Conduct Act of Nigeria is unambiguously clear on this matter. It read thus; Any person who, with intent to defraud any person, falsely represents himself to be some other person, living or dead, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.

There is no way these chairmen will feign ignorance to the fact that six (6) out of their so-called members are impostors. This, again calls for questioning of the chairmen, and begs the question if they are an accomplices to the impostors?


Section 10 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act is also clear on this matter; A person who receives or assists another who is, to his knowledge, guilty of an offence, in order to enable him to escape punishment, is said to become an accessory after the fact to the offence.

It is on above premise that we call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the impostors who issued the statement of vote of no confidence and appended their signatures to the document.

These documents which is already in the public domain will now be tendered as exhibits of the crime.

STATE OF THE NATION: NIGER DELTA COALITION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (NDCSD) SUPPORTS AUGUST 1, 2024 NATIONAL PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GOVERNMENT.

We the Niger Delta Coalition for Sustainable Development, (NDCSD), a foremost Coalition that has been a voice of the people of the region since 2012, hereby express deep disappointment over the current condition of Nigeria and Nigerians, since independence including the Civil War of 1967-1970 never experienced this hunger situation Nigerians are facing since the APC government took power.

We urgently conveyed our meeting led by Comr James Ebiowei Brown, National Coordinator and National Organizing Secretary, Excel Toriomo of the group in the creeks of the Niger Delta to come up with our position on the proposed national protest by critical stakeholders across the nine Niger Delta States, therefore, we unanimously declare our total support to the proposed 1st of August nationwide protest without apology.

We have already set out all our machineries in motion and at the same time this is to inform Mr. President and his administration that we are ready, because we can no longer watch our people die of hunger and starvation, enough is enough in this ill-treatment and inhuman hearted administration.

We will not support oppression, injustice and nepotism, we will stand for what is right and we will fight those who support this government against the will of the people, hence this statement we are issuing today on the subject matter of the national protest for August 1, 2024.

We can no longer allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Administration to take Nigerians for a ride, enough is enough!! He has made the worst of appointments which are all lopsided and tribalistic at the detriment of a united Nigeria. The sheer impunity in appointment has divided our country than ever, and it is the worst where only Yorubas are occupying all positions.

We want to let Nigerians know that President Tinubu is aware that he is not a monopoly of protest therefore does not have the moral standing to stop the protest Nigerians want to embark on August 1, 2024.

We are in support of the protest and we have given instructions to all our structures in the Niger Delta States and other youth organizations across the country including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja that we are encouraging them to come out to vent out their displeasure with the way and manner this administration has treated Nigerians, whereby we have lost our youths to the ‘Japa’ Syndrome on daily basis.

REASONS FOR SUPPORT OF PROTEST

First, Nigerians have never experienced the degree of hunger in the land, and this has led to heightened insecurity, high cost of foodstuff in the market, whereby the common man is denied his food and families are now selling their property and children to survive, stealing, while some are dying of hunger daily, and we will not allow this to continue.

Second, the current inflation is terribly abnormal without solution, and this has killed countless businesses, and Nigerians have lost their jobs and their suffering is compounded. It is not going to be allowed any more.

Third, Fuel pump price, the scam call subsidy removal is has destroyed the economy of this country, and all the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, therefore, Nigerians cannot breathe.

Fourth, Minimum wage, this is a sheer oppression to force this meagre sum of N70, 000 down the throat of Nigerian workers that cannot even buy a bag of rice, and this pay is a ridicule of the hard working Nigerian worker, and we reject it.

Fifth, collapsed power generation and supply, this failure of government had made the economy to be on snail speed, therefore, scares investors, which many have left the country, while others do not want to come in any longer, and small businesses are dying, and Nigerians paying high electricity tariff while in darkness.

Others are bad roads; Budget padding;. INEC rigging of election with impunity; Highest cost of governance; Highest bidder appointments; Excessive borrowings for looting; Crude oil theft; Dysfuntional functional refineries; Excess electricity & erratic tariffs; Excessive bank charges; Resource control; 1999 constitution; Need for restructuring restructuring; Consumption instead of production; Arable farmland without subsidized mechanized farming equipment; Breakdown of law and order; Injustices at the courts; Failed civil service system; Non-functional educational system; Japa syndrome; Corruption; Unaccountability of public office holders; Poor road networks; Worst housing programme; Non real estate funding Interest rates for entrepreneurs; Devastating economic policies; Looting and lootocracy Growing division amongst ethnic groups35. Naira devaluation36. Poverty; Lack of support for local manufacturers and local contents; Highest import duties ever; Underfunded army and police; Salaries and pension delays, and among others.

SHOULD THEIR BE SHOW OF FORCE ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS BY SECURITY AGENCIES OR SPONSORED GROUPS.

We will shut down the NNPCL facilities and force oil companies to leave the region.

We also will storm NNPCL Towers in Abuja to ensure the sack of Engr Mele Kyari who have done this country evil than good.

We will also storm the National Assembly and ensure Senator Godswill Akpabio is sacked as Senate President because we have rejected and pass vote of no confidence on him, the National Assembly should immediately sack him for unethical practices as Senate President.

OUR DEMANDS

President Bola Tinubu should immediately tackle these destructive policies in the best interest of a comatose economy.

The President should reverse the destructive scam fuel subsidy removal back to where it was.

Signed for others by:

Comr James Ebiowei Brown, National Coordinator,

Excel Toriomo
National Organizing Secretary.

Niger Delta Coalition for Sustainable Development (NDCSD)



Source: https://naijagg.com/state-of-the-nation-niger-delta-coalition-for-sustainable-development-ndcsd-supports-august-1-2024-national-protest-against-president-bola-ahmed-tinubu-government/

.....calls on Philip Shaibu to let peace reign in Edo State



Edo youth advocate, Andrew Enantomhen on Monday congratulated the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election, Asue Ighodalo on his Appeal Court victory.

Describing the victory, Andrew Enantomhen said it is a victory for decency and what is right. He further said it is a victory for "fairness, justice and equity".

Speaking to Philip Shuaibu, the appellant in the case, Andrew Enantomhen said he should "rest and let peace reign in Edo State."

"With all due respect to the impeached and therefore former Deputy Governor, we think it is time for him to put an end to his dramas and let Edo State move forward. We thank him for his past public services as a State but we must not let him hold our dear State to ransom. He is not the first Deputy Governor to fall out with his principal and be removed from office for obvious reasons as it fits the wisdom of the House of Assembly, and he will not be the last.

"Asue Ighodalo is the incoming Governor of Edo State. Today the Appeal Court affirmed Asue Ighodalo as the duly elected gubernatorial candidate of the PDP. Now, Philip Shaibu should let us focus on the campaigns and stop his wild goose chase that is leading to nowhere. We need peace in Edo State and the peace is non-negotiable and Philip Shaibu must respect that fact and rest, and let Edo State move forward in peace," Andrew Enantomhen said.



Source: https://naijagg.com/andrew-enantomhen-congratulates-asue-ighodalo-on-his-appeal-court-victory-calls-on-philip-shaibu-to-let-peace-reign-in-edo-state/

.....says "Tinubu is putting Nigerians through hell"




Former Deputy Spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank on Monday in Abuja joined the call for what is termed as #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria.

Justifying the planned protest, Timi Frank said "within a year of Tinubu's Presidency, Nigerians on their own have had enough of bad governance in ways never imagined."

"Tinubu is putting Nigerians through hell, everyday. Tinubu is using bad governance to reduce the lifespan of the average Nigerian. In fact, Nigeria under Tinubu is the dictionary definition of bad governance. Even the APC members are feeling it. Everyone is crying in the country now. The only people not feeling it are Tinubu and his few friends who have held the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ransom with bad governance.

"So, yes, I support the call for a protest to end bad governance in Nigeria. We have had bad governance under Buhari but Tinubu has taken the bad governance to a level that threatens even the daily existence of the average Nigerian. The average Nigerian goal now is just survival and nothing more now. Nigerians just want to see how they can daily survive till the next day as Tinubu and his few friends from Lagos continue to wreck havoc on the country and its innocent and hardworking citizens in ways never imagined," Timi Frank further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/timi-frank-joins-call-for-endbadgovernance-protest-says-tinubu-is-putting-nigerians-through-hell/

.....urges Tinubu's media handlers to stop bullying the North for speaking their minds



Former APC Deputy Spokesperson, Timi Frank on Sunday weighed in on the state of the nation. He said the signs ahead are not in favour of a possible Tinubu re-election.

"In fact, let me put it clearly for the record, President Tinubu's chances are getting slimmer by the day. Some others think Tinubu will be a one-term President because of the growing anger of the North, but the fact is, Tinubu's potential to be a one-term President is because of his bad policies.

"Somehow, President Tinubu has made suffering a national reality. Across the country, North and South, people are suffering," Timi Frank said.

"People are also saying that Tinubu's potential to be a one-term President is because the North cannot wait for the South to complete eight years in power, well, the fact is, Tinubu's bad policies are enough to even see that even in the South-West where Tinubu comes from, is where Tinubu's loss will start from.

"Tinubu did not really win in the South in the last election. Tinubu is President today because of Northern votes. So, my advise to the media handlers of President Tinubu is that they should desist from bullying the North. The North must be allowed to speak their minds freely without fear of intimidation by anybody or from any quarter. From where I see it, the signs ahead point to the impending reality that Tinubu will be a one-term President as he will likely be voted out of power by 2027," Timi Frank further said.



Source: https://naijagg.com/tinubu-will-likely-be-a-one-term-president-because-of-his-bad-policies-and-not-because-of-the-norths-growing-anger-timi-frank/

The Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy, CPD, has advised the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to seek advice from past holders of the office on public conduct.

The CPD says the mannerisms currently displayed by Sen.Akpabio while presiding in the chamber shows an alarming lack of expected decorum, carriage and knowledge on parliamentary practices and procedures.

The group notes that Senate Presidents that preceded Akpabio in office like Ahmad Lawan, Bukola Saraki, David Mark conducted the affairs of the institution in reverence and respect which the office demands, expressing concerns that Sen. Akpabio’s actions and utterances as Senate President are ridiculing the institution.

Dr. Menike Johnson, the CPD’s National Coordinator, in a statement issued in Abuja and made available to newsmen, frowned at the pettiness of Akpabio in dragging his personal animosity to the floor of the Senate using the privilege of the Chair, the symbol of the parliament authority.

“If he (Akpabio) sought the advice of his predecessors in that office, he would have been counseled that the Chair of the Senate President in the chamber is not designed for personal scuffles.

"It is not a seat for personal aggrandizement or peddling of cheap rumours and lies.

"The expectations of Nigerians is that Akpabio as the Senate President will provide for legislative instruments that will help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to solve economic challenges confronting the nation", the statement stated

It will be recalled that Sen. Akpabio had on Thursday alleged that he made Mr Udom Emmanuel Governor of Akwa Ibom State and he did nothing for him for eight years.

Earlier, the Senate President was also quoted as advising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to “ignore” the Senator representing the FCT, Senator Ireti Kingibe.

Akpabio’s history of careless comments on the floor of the red chambers had previously seen him falsely accusing Governors of receiving 30billion naira palliatives from the Federal Government with nothing to show for it, a statement he would later recant.

The CPD described such utterances as "reckless, infantile and unbefitting of the office of the Senate President".

.....Edo APC stakeholders complain that Monday Okpebholo is bringing the APC humiliation everyday



In what seems to be a twist in the events leading to the September 2024 Governorship election in Edo State, the APC stakeholders are said to be re-considering their stand.

According to sources that spoke to reporters in Benin today, the APC is angry that the Edo APC candidate has failed to make any headway with his campaign yet.

"The party is not happy with Monday Okpebholo. His growing rejection across the State is a serious cause for concern even in Abuja.

"Many of our key stakeholders are saying they will support and vote for Asue Ighodalo in September. They say they are just with us but they will rather vote for Asue Ighodalo.

"Monday Okpebholo is bringing us humiliation every now and then. His inability to be co-ordinated as a person is a serious embarrassment. The people of Edo State are not interested in our campaign at all. It is rejection all over the place," an anonymous source told this news medium.

"The fact is Monday Okpebholo was imposed on us. He is not our choice. Yet he lacks the charisma expected in a leader in every way even the very least of it, he lacks it. He is very unconvincing. Even our own party members have since pitched their tent with Asue Ighodalo. We even fear that Mr President may have abandoned us to our fate in Edo. Ighodalo is winning this forthcoming election, honestly much as it worries me as a stakeholder in the APC. Instead of us to put our campaign house in order, we are busy trying to focus our energy into PDP affair, see the almighty APC trying to celebrate what is not worth our attention on a good day. A lawyer misinterpreted a judgement for us and we are celebrating the misinterpretation. That is how bad things are with the Monday Okpebholo campaign right now. It is really finished as the APC campaign is not making any form of progress at all till now," the anonymous source in the APC further said.



Source: https://naijagg.com/breaking-edo-apc-in-disarray-as-stakeholders-complain-that-monday-okpebholo-is-bringing-the-apc-humiliation-everyday-vow-to-vote-for-ighodalo/

• The purported endorsement claims are a Confirmation of Leadership Failure in Kogi East — Captain Joe Agada

….says all aspirants should prepare for congress

June 26, 2024

The Captain Joe Agada for Kogi State PDP Chairman media team has noted with amusement , the purported endorsement over the weekend of two desperate entities.

The media team tagged as outrageous and a hilarious joke, the purported claims by some quarters that a certain Hon. Tony Amego and Hon. Mona Anyiebe have both been endorsed for the same position of Kogi PDP State party chairman by His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State.

The Captain Joe Agada media team says it is laughable that the aspirants involved in this joke, rather than gear up for elections at the congress, are in desperate mode, shopping for a non-existent endorsement.


What is clearly demonstrated now has justified capt. Joe Agada's stance that the coveted State chairmanship is no longer an exclusive preserve of His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris to dispense to anybody, rather such power has been given to the elected delegates from the 21LGA and 239 wards and that was why in his wisdom, His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim made it abundantly clear that he has no preferred candidate. “Baba said is not from him “ but anybody who wins from the field becomes his Chairman and that he has no preferences.

"It is also on record that Captain Joe Agada never attended any meeting in Alhaji Ibrahim’s house to support a kangaro endorsement arrangement.

The media team said it is disappointed in the commotion at play where two different aspirants are claiming to have been endorsed for the same exclusive position at the same time by one man.

In setting the records straight, it needs to be established clearly that the narratives about such endorsement claim can be likened to Kunle Bamtefa’s Fuji house of commotion.

It is imperative to note that all those fronting the purported but now discreted consensus endorsement are mostly our anti party returnee leaders previously as DG ACCORD party alias Akpabana or frontline SDP promoters after their candidate defected to APGA and all of them are now wanting to nominate their anti party surrogates into PDP Exco to again compromise and abandon the party in 2027 to their new paymasters.


Captain Joe Agada media team invites all to note that the position of State party chairman is too critical at a time like this for anyone to be going about laying claims to any imaginary endorsement. It is in the best interest of the party for every candidate to test his or her popularity at the polls, Captain Joe Agada media team further said.

A

In recent days, the CBN is again in the news for the chaotic events surrounding the mass transfer of staff to various outstations and more recently for the sacking of some of its elite staff under a so-called restructuring exercise.

Again, the Governor, Olayemi Cardoso is at the centre of the storm, but little has been said about the man behind the chaos – Bala Bello, Deputy Governor – Corporate Services.

Bala’s meteoric rise from a mediocre career background to becoming a deputy to the CBN Governor is a modern Machiavellian narrative on how the corridors of powers in Nigeria’s highest institutions can be easily accessed by corporate bandits using their political connections.

In January 2003, the then CBN Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi conducted a recruitment exercise to bring into the Bank, the very best graduate officers to power the strategic transformation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The project EAGLES initiative was the starting point from which the CBN would emerge as Nigeria’s premier public institution.



That January, a total of 40,000 candidates were shortlisted to write the aptitude tests for various vacancies at the CBN. Joseph Sanusi ensured that the recruitment exercise was conducted with the highest possible level of integrity. He refused to allow the political elite impose candidates on him resulting in the hiring of the top 400 (1%) of the shortlisted candidates.

The sons and daughters of nobodies became employees of Nigeria’s elite public institution.

This cohort would become the driving force for implementing change at the CBN. Bala Bello also participated in the 2003 recruitment exercise; however, he fell out of the race having failed to make the cutoff mark after the first aptitude test was conducted. Surprisingly, twenty years later, Bala Bello was appointed Deputy Governor at the same Bank.

How Bala’s career progression surpassed that of his intellectual superiors is in every sense the story of how political hustlers take control of public institutions and end up in positions of power far beyond their capacities. The highest ranking members of the 2003 cohort had only attained the cadre of deputy directors.

In less than a year of being Deputy Governor, Bala has taken the desecration of the CBN to new lows. Following Joseph Sanusi’s tenure, the CBN has had four Governors: Charles Soludo, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Godwin Emefiele and Olayemi Cardoso.

Professor Soludo continued the new culture of meritorious recruitment and brought in another generation of high achieving graduate officers. Vacancies for available positions were publicised in national newspapers, shortlists were made considering academic qualifications and federal character, aptitude tests and interviews were conducted objectively. This resulted in the employment of Nigerian citizens who had no godfathers into Nigeria’s apex bank.



The coming of Sanusi Lamido changed the culture of meritorious recruitment. Sanusi Lamido stopped the open and transparent recruitment culture and brought in friends and family. He hired people into various cadres of the Bank and particularly brought in a large cohort of Directors and Deputy directors that would subsequently take over the leadership of the CBN. This was a turning point in the Bank’s strategic direction.

Godwin Emefiele also continued this trend of nepotism. The floodgates of recruitment at the CBN were made wide open to all. The Bank hired staff weekly, however Emefiele’s recruitment differed from Sanusi Lamido’s as Emefiele mostly brought in staff to fill lower graduate officer positions. Hence it can be observed the decadence in the top leadership positions were largely because of Lamido Sanusi’s mismanagement.

Olayemi Cardoso resumed office to face these staffing nightmares. As Emefiele’s leadership had become synonymous with high-handedness and political misadventures, the mess needed to be cleared, however a General is only as good as his lieutenants.

Instead of a mature and experienced deputy to oversee these critical staff issues, Cardoso was given Bala Bello. An inexperienced, anger prone, tribalist with suspected psychotic tendencies.

Bala Bello as Deputy Governor, Corporate Services gave him responsibility over Human Resources, Procurement Services, Finance, Security Services, Legal Services, Capacity Development and Corporate Communications.

This wide portfolio would be entrusted to an unqualified individual whose actions have thrown the CBN into another shameful public maelstrom.

To understand the present chaos at the CBN and how it can be attributed to Bala Bello, we need to investigate his antecedents at the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) where he served similarly as the Executive Director, Corporate Services.

Prior to joining NEXIM, Bala was unemployed for four years. His previous employer Sigma Pensions had let him go, for reasons that have been rumoured to be related to his alleged involvement in fraudulent activities.

How Bala Bello ended up being nominated by the past administration to becoming an Executive Director at NEXIM is a testimony to how profitable political hustling can be in Nigeria.

Bala’s reign at NEXIM is like his current reign at the CBN. In one word, it was chaos!

He oversaw the dismissal of several staff members without due process (this ensured that he instilled a culture of fear at NEXIM), He hijacked the medical services and handed it to a ‘friendly’ HMO, he only worked with acting directors (this ensured that his direct reports were lackeys whom could not challenge his decisions),

He allegedly awarded service contracts to related entities and successfully subverted his then Boss, the Director General of NEXIM.

At the CBN, Bala has replicated the same formula that he successfully implemented at the CBN. This has been done in the following ways.



1. On resumption at the CBN, he cancelled the registration of all accredited contractors even though they were yet to come to the end of their two-year tenure. He then registered a new set of contracting firms. These new entities included registered enterprises and ventures rather than solely limited liability companies as stated in the CBN’s procurement policies.

2. He has awarded contracts beyond his approval limits.

3. He transferred staff away from the procurement services at the head office to various outstations and replaced them with lackeys that do his bidding. The Department has been stripped of virtually all senior southerners and northern Christians.

4. He has terminated the appointment of Directors and other executive cadre staff without board approval as stipulated in the CBN act.

5. He has terminated the appointment of other staff cadres without due process. The so-called restructuring exercise at the CBN has been conducted without any legal remit from the CBN Board, without any terms of reference and stated objectives and set criteria.

6. The terminated CBN staff have been majorly southerners (Christian and Muslims) and northern Christians. These form over 90% of those affected.

7. Contrary to the Bank’s policy on the non-permission of employment of siblings, Bala’s biological brother is also in the employment of the CBN and remains untouched by the transfers and appointment terminations.

8. Since his appointment, no Directors have been appointed. He has kept all vacant departments under the leadership of acting directors, who are afraid to displease him out of fear of not being appointed as full directors or fear of sacking.

9. He has overpowered his principal (Cardoso) likely using blackmail tactics. This was allegedly achieved by getting his principal to approve policy changes and renumeration increases without due processes such as board approvals.

10. The appointment terminations have particularly targeted the highflyers recruited by Chief Joseph Sanusi. Bala has come to haunt his intellectual superiors and ensure that he has no opposition from any CBN staff. The last has made himself first. He has put himself in the position of determining the future leadership of Nigeria’s apex bank.



From all indications, the travails of the CBN will likely continue to the near future.

The Bank’s strategic direction has been abandoned, its culture of ethics and professionalism have been trounced and replaced with a culture of fear and indifference. Staff no longer see themselves as stakeholders in the Bank, like sheep without a shepherd. This loss of faith in the CBN by its staff is like what has happened across commercial banks in Nigeria where their staff abandoned loyalty to their employers. This is the chief reason behind the high incidence of fraud in Nigerian banks. The CBN cannot afford to have the same culture of disloyalty.

Olayemi Cardoso must take the bull by the horns and drag the CBN from the mud of mediocrity that Bala Bello has dunked it in.

Cardoso must decide what his legacy will be, whether he will continue to be dribbled by this young rascal or whether he will chart the part of humble service and return to the meritocratic roots planted by Chief Joseph Sanusi.



Cardoso must revisit every single staff termination decision and verify if such decisions were made in good faith or were an act of malice. He must seek reconciliation over recrimination.



The CBN will soon be plagued with a barrage of court cases as affected staff will seek redress in the halls of justice and possibly in mud slinging halls of social media. The investigations by both arms of the National Assembly is just the start.

The CBN, President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria do not need another round of international embarrassment. It would be wise for Cardoso to pursue the healing of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

*Will Cardoso be the healer, or will he be the cancer?*

Time will tell.

We are all watching.



31.05.2024



A concerned CBN staff



Source: https://naijagg.com/exposing-bala-bello-the-puppeteer-behind-the-staff-chaos-at-the-central-bank-of-nigeria/

Jackson Ude, anti-corruption activist has accused a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bala Bello, of academic fraud.


In a post on X on Monday, titled "BALA BELLO: THE MOST PADDED ACADEMIC FRAUD IN CBN!", Jackson Ude said "The Deputy Governor, Corporate, of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Bala Bello, is an academic fraud. He managed to obtain a Bachelor degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, but has all through been lying that he has an MBA from same institution. Bello should provide the date he enrolled for the MBA program and the date he graduated. He should make his certificate public. Aye e ti fe ba je ba yi oo."

"Not done with his academic fraud, Bello tells his friends and associates that he has a PhD. On his CBN profile, he listed the PhD as Honoris Causa from some obscure and unknown universities one of which is from Republic of Benin, a haven for fake universities. Bello should tell us how much he paid for those Honoris Causa. Aye e ti fe ba je ba yi ooo.
Commonwealth University where Bello bought another PhD Honoris Causa has been declared fake by the Federal Government during the Mohammadu Buhari’s time.
Bello has no Master’s degree, has no PhD but he is busy sacking Masters and PhD holders from the CBN who got those jobs through merit.
I will wait for Bello to respond before I him to the garbage bin!" Jackson Ude further said.



Source: https://naijagg.com/jackson-ude-accuses-cbn-deputy-governor-bala-bello-of-academic-fraud/

Ibomites for Progressive Governance (IPG), a nascent social-political organization, has cautioned the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to stop discrediting the exalted office the Senate President.

The group was reacting to a statement credited to Sen. Akpabio in which he allegedly claimed that that he sent his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, with a letter to the Government House, Uyo, wherein he requested to pay a courtesy visit to the immediate past Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, but that his wife was stopped at the gate.

While speaking at the reception held in his honour at Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, at the weekend, Sen. Akpabio reportedly claimed that his wife was left at the gate of the Government House for hours without access to enter the premises.

Reacting to this in Abuja, the IPG, through its National Secretary, Mr Chris Effiong, described the claim as “a cheap lie,” noting that the wife of the Senate President is not “a mail runner” and urged him to stop being unguarded in public speaking.

“The truth is that no such incident ever happened. Mrs. Akpabio was never ever left at the gate of Government House, Uyo, as falsely stated by her husband, Senator Akpabio. Senator Akpabio lied, pure and simple. No former First Lady can be kept at the gate of any Government House. It appears that this is the figment of Senator Akpabio’s imagination.

“It is therefore incredible and deeply concerning that a man who occupies the Number three position in our country could resort to cheap blackmail before a national audience.

“We challenge Sen. Akpabio to show evidence of this incident. The former First Lady usually travels with a retinue of aides including media. There is no way Senator Akpabio’s wife would have been kept waiting for five hours without a pictorial or video evidence taken by her media team.

“The bile and animosity Senator Akpabio has towards the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State H.E., Udom Emmanuel, CON, is deeply concerning if he could weave such an outrageous lie against the former governor.

“Akpabio should stop these intentional lies he manufactures against the former governor and understand that by his unguarded utterances he is discrediting the exalted office of the Senate President of Nigeria”, the IPG stated.

......Calls for Expanded Anti-Corruption Efforts



Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its efforts to apprehend and prosecute former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Speaking in Abuja, Frank urged the Commission to broaden its investigation to include other allegedly corrupt individuals, particularly former governors, ministers, and public officials associated with both the past administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Frank stressed the importance of extending the probe to avoid giving the impression that the EFCC's actions against Bello were merely a witch hunt. While commending the EFCC's steps to hold Bello accountable, Frank highlighted the need for equal scrutiny of other individuals accused of corruption.

"We commend the EFCC for its efforts in pursuing Yahaya Bello's prosecution. However, we urge the agency to also investigate other former governors, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, whose alleged corrupt practices have been reported to the EFCC," said Frank.


Otherwise, their efforts to apprehend Bello and bring him to trial would appear to be a deliberate and malicious witch hunt simply because he contested the Presidential primary election of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) against President Bola Tinubu.

Furthermore, we have yet to witness the arrest of several allegedly corrupt public officials who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, despite petitions against them before the EFCC. These individuals include former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, among others.

Additionally, there are those like former personal assistant to President Buhari, Tunde Sabiu; former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh; immediate past Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami; the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Dr. Mele Kyari; and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who remain unprosecuted.

Similarly, former Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Zainab Ahmed; former Director General of the Nigerian Ports Authority and current aide to President Tinubu, Hadiza Bala Usman; former Governor of Ebonyi State and present Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and former security chiefs who are the subject of petitions before the EFCC continue to evade prosecution.

Frank, representing the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in East Africa and the Middle East, emphasized that by bringing these individuals to court to face trial, the EFCC would demonstrate to Nigerians that their actions against Bello are not politically motivated.
He said: “Someone like Wike has a petition against him before the EFCC, but they have never invited him to defend allegations against him. Is it because some of these people supported and campaigned for Tinubu to emerge President in 2023 that makes them untouchable?”

He acknowledged that the EFCC's action against Bello is a positive step in the fight against corruption. However, he emphasized the need for the EFCC to show the same level of commitment in addressing allegations against other corrupt individuals.

He added: “For instance, we have seen the recent revelation of the Governor of Abia State, Alex Oti, against the former governor of the State, Okezie Ikpeazu, concerning humongous money paid for the construction of a non-existent airport and other bogus projects by the immediate past administration in Abia state.

The activist, who hails from Bayelsa, asserted that the failure to prosecute former governors and ministers accused of corruption would undermine the credibility of the anti-corruption efforts. He criticized the EFCC for appearing selective in its prosecutions, targeting only those who may not be in favour with the President.

He pointed out that individuals who support the current administration seem to evade prosecution while those critical of it are pursued. He warned that if the EFCC continues to neglect its duty to investigate allegations against individuals like Nyesom Wike, they will make the petitions public to shed light on their actions while in office and compel the EFCC to take action.

Hence, we urge the EFCC to demonstrate its commitment to combating corruption in Nigeria by actively pursuing all individuals accused of corrupt practices, not just a select few. If the EFCC truly aims to gain the trust of both Nigerians and the international community in the fight against corruption, it must extend its investigations to all relevant parties mentioned. Additionally, we demand swift prosecution of those implicated in corruption allegations to ensure accountability and fairness.

Furthermore, we call upon the EFCC to cease the harassment and intimidation of individuals like Yahaya Bello. Doing so will signal to the public that the EFCC is dedicated to upholding justice and integrity in Nigeria, thereby restoring faith in the anti-corruption efforts of the current administration.






Source: https://naijagg.com/timi-frank-commends-efcc-for-pursuing-arrest-of-bello-calls-for-expanded-anti-corruption-efforts/

....Asks Tinubu to forward Supplementary Amendment to NASS

A civil society organisation, Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD), has reviewed the deliberation of the Senate on the allegation of N3.7 trillion budget padding and surmised that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is presiding over sleaze.

The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr Menike Johnson, noted that revelations from the Tuesday sitting showed that the Senate has been reduced to a place of budget manipulations and sharing of looted funds.

The revelation by a Senator that some "senior Senators got N700 millions, some got N500 millions and others got nothing" is a clear pointer to the sleaze going on in the upper Chambers under Akpabio's watch.

It is also disturbing that Nigerians heard from the senators how the funds meant for the development of our country are being round-tripped through non-existent constituency projects.

The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the budget padding allegation in the interest of transparency.

The President should save the integrity of the 2024 Appropriation Act by introducing a Supplementary Bill that will review the manipulations perpetrated in the budget.

In conjunction with the alarm raised by Senator Abdul Ningi who represents Bauchi Central in the hallowed Red Chamber of the National Assembly , it remains a crack and an injury to the national economy for the Presidency to have outrageously padded a whooping sum of 3 trillion naira to the already endorsed budget meant for the administration of the State House . In the midst of hunger , lacks and poverty plaguing majority of the citizens , it is wrong of the Presidency who is expected to tackle the monumental challenges of penury and rising inflation to extend hands to take more funds from the already emptied treasury of the nation to run its affairs .


It is unfair that those who are entrusted with the mantle of leadership are the ruiners of the rules of engagement and public trust . Nigeria cannot prosper in the face of unaccountability, deception and breach of public trust . Leadership bereft of good services delivery can never advance a nation rather it draws back success speed, kills efficiency in management , raises doubt of the led on the leaders and most painfully makes hunger a reality since the treasury meant to empower and feed the national infrastructures is being mismanaged and diverted .



As a nation , we should learn from the simple economic theory of decent management in order to grow . When a nation spends beyond what she earns , a loophole is seen to have been created and no magic settles it except caution is taken to fill the gap carelessly created by mismanagement and bad planning . That is the reality in simple econometrics . I feel touched seeing an economically blessed Nigeria undergoing hunger and poverty because of bad leadership .



I advise that as a nation , let us emulate how to plant than smartly harvesting even when the yields are immature . In the 60s , Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia suffered economic meltdown and as well made a turn around throuhgh meticulous planning , robust management and practice of investment realities that widens economic advancement . Nigeria is not poor but her problems lie in bad leadership that had left most citizens depressed, pauperized and frustrated . Government officers looting the treasury for their own selfish interests has been a clog on the wheels of our national prosperity . If fail to change the system now, how do we expect the youth to react ? Consider the rising wave of insecurity , killings and suicide murder prevailing in the Country today , then you would agree with me that expect those in corridors of power set the right pace , a new Nigeria of our popular expectations would not be achieved .


Chief Emeka Kalu,
Eck Foundations CEO.


Source: https://naijagg.com/3-trillion-naira-budget-padding-a-crack-on-the-economy/

The leadership of the United Nigerians in the Diaspora (UND) has said that it will embark on massive street protest to some Nigerian embassies in Washington DC, some other US cities, London and other major cities in Europe and Asia nations, asking for immediate resignation of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The diaspora group said that the INEC chairman should resign over what they described as “the conduct of a shambolic 2023 general elections” while Senate President Akpabio should step aside over the allegation of budget padding raised against him by some Senators.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, signed by its president worldwide, Ambassador Yusuf Adeyinka, and its general secretary worldwide, Comrade Johnson Acheme, the group solicited co-operation of the International Community during the protest periods and also urged foreign nations who practice ideal democracy like the great Britain, United States and other nations of the world to bar the INEC National Chairman and his team members, Senate President, Akpabio and indeed, the top echelon of the Nigerian Judiciary who partook in deciding the 2023 elections petitions tribunal matters from entering their countries.

The diaspora group also commended Senator Ningi for his courage to expose budget padding in the National Assembly.
“We, the leadership of United Nigerians in the Diaspora, UND- an umbrella body of diaspora groups comprising of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, some European and Asian nations wish to alert Nigerians and the entire international community on our resolve to hit the streets and Nigerian Embassies in Washington DC, some other US cities, London and other major cities in Europe and Asia nations where our members are domiciled to protest the conduct of a shambolic 2023 general elections by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu and his rogue team.

“As a body, we have carefully watched the antecedents and actions of the National Chairman vis-a-vis the current happenings and realities in Nigeria and wonder what the hell he is still waiting for to resign from that position. To put the records straight, the 2023 elections where the ineptly corrupt Commission claimed it spent a whooping N300 Billion Naira was not only the most expensive but also the most incredible in our recent history.

“We recall first and foremost, how the National Chairman and his Commissioner in charge of Public Affairs, a certain Dr. Festus Okoye graced every available national and international platforms assuring Nigerians and the rest of the world of a most transparent election using the Biometric Voter Accreditation System, BVAS machines that would automatically transmit elections results and data from the various Polling Units across the country to the Commission’s central server.

“These rather noble technological innovations were applauded as we all believed it would curb the electoral manipulations and malpractices which our electoral system has been known with through the manual accreditation and collation of elections results.”

According to the statement, the most disconcerting is the fact that the said Professor Mahmoud is yet being strategically positioned by the Tinubu administration to possibly perfect another fraudulent charade in the guise of elections for the incumbent government come 2027.
“For emphasis, this global body while commending some of the Northern Senators like Senator Ningi for their courage to speak up on the alleged padding of N3 trillion Naira into the initially approved N25 trillion Naira by the President gives the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio only 48 hours to honourably resign his position and face immediate prosecution. Should he fail to heed, we encourage members of the National Assembly to immediately commence a process of his impeachment as he has manifestly demonstrated incapacity, corruption and collusion with the Executive arm of government he was ordinarily elected to checkmate in line with the principles of checks and balances as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

“We also knock the Nigerian Judiciary for stamping the fraud and illegality dubbed 2023 elections by Mahmoud and cohorts. That arm of government has since then lost the honour, dignity and respect of many Nigerians who had relied on it as ordinarily the last hope of the common man to remedy the wrongs and defects in the 2023 elections.”
The group, however, resolved to “commence peaceful protests in major cities and Embassies in Washington DC, New York, London, Paris and numerous other cities where our members reside in their numbers. Through messages on our placards, we shall INSIST on the immediate resignation of the INEC National Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu and respectively, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“We shall continue our global protests and will not QUIT or STOP until Mahmoud and Akpabio resign their positions as the National Chairman of INEC and as President of Nigeria’s Red Chambers. We also urge the United Nations, the European Union and other world bodies should stop them from making or getting any form of international honour, recognition or participating in it’s activities and engagements.

“Finally, we solicit the usual co-operation of the International Community during these periods and also urge foreign nations who practice ideal democracy like the great Britain, United States and other nations of the world to bar the corrupt INEC National Chairman and his rogue team members, Senate President, Akpabio and indeed, the top echelon of the Nigerian Judiciary who partook in deciding the 2023 Elections petitions tribunal matters from entering their countries. They should confiscate their International passports, those of their wives and families and ensure there is no hiding place for the Nigerian 2023 election robbers, their accomplices or their obviously corrupt enobblers.”


Source: https://naijagg.com/resign-or-be-disgraced-out-of-office-diaspora-group-schedules-protest-against-inec-chair-akpabio/

A civil society organization, the Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD), has demanded that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, should step down for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his alleged padding of the 2024 Appropriation Act to the tune of N3 trillion.

The media space had been awash over the allegation of budget padding by the Akpabio leadership in the Senate, a situation alleged to have jerked the sum total of the budget passed and approved on the floors of the National Assembly from N25 trillion to N28 trillion.

Senator Abdul Ningi, the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum and Chairman, Senate Committee on National Population, who made the revelation of budget padding while speaking on a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) interview at the weekend, alleged that the 2024 Appropriation Act being implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is at variance with the budget passed, approved and presented to the President by the National Assembly for his assent.

The CPD, which expressed shock over the revelation, is demanding that Akpabio should step aside as the Senate President and allow for an independent investigation by an adhoc committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged N3 trillion budget fraud.

The group insists that it amounts to a gross misconduct and punishable violation of rules for any individual or group, or any arm of government to import fresh figures into an Appropriation Act after it has been assented to by the President except through an amendment introduced by way of a supplementary proposal.

The group noted that it is offensive and unpardonable for the Senate President to nicodemously submit another Appropriation proposal to the President outside what was officially passed by the Parliament.

"It is imperative that the Senate President immediately step aside until he is cleared of this very weighty allegation," the group insisted.

Former Federal Lawmaker and Elder Statesman, Chief Nduese Essien has raised alarm over the recent spate of unguarded utterances from the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, saying they are capable of instigating needless chaos in Akwa Ibom State and in Nigeria.

In an open letter addressed to Senator Akpabio titled: Modesty is a Virtue to Embrace, Chief Nduese Essien, said Senator Akpabio has abdicated his role of leading a formidable legislature that is expected to put the executive in check, make laws that will strengthen the wobbling economy, but has rather chosen to be a cheerleader for the executive arm of government.

Calling on the former Governor to show restraint and avoid inflammatory and divisive statements, Chief Nduese Essien, among other things, condemned Akpabio for misleading Nigerians during the Senate Plenary last Tuesday that Governors were given additional 30 Billion Naira to their statutory allocation by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to cushion the food and inflation challenges bedeviling the country.

He said as the third citizen of the country, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State should cross-check information before making it public in order not dent his reputation.

The former Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development further frowned at the Senate President's speech during the State's Thanksgiving Anniversary in September 2023 where he stated that all local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, are oil producing and as such, there should be no distinction in terms of sharing resources or benefits.

Such a statement, according to Chief Essien gives credence to why the Senate President, at his time as Governor deprived the oil producing communities their rights and why he failed to establish an Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission as seen in other oil producing states while also diverting NDDC projects to non oil producing communities while he served as minister.

"Sir, I am compelled by a sense of duty to address the inconsistencies that have come to characterise your political expressions, particularly within our beloved Akwa Ibom State. Your Excellency, during the 36th Anniversary Thanksgiving service of our state creation at the Apostolic Church in Uyo in 2023, you declared all local government areas in the state as oil producing, and that there should be no distinction among them in terms of sharing of resources or benefits.

” I was shocked because throughout your eight years as Governor of the state, you never said so though you were blatant in depriving the oil producing areas of their rights. You refused to establish the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Commission in the state, despite demands and pressures, thus making Akwa Ibom the only oil producing state without this commission. You also diverted most of the NDDC projects to non-oil producing areas of the state. It is now clear how and why you operated that way", he said.

Chief Nduese Essien also condemned Akpabio for bluntly directing the State Governor not to implement the Akwa Ibom State Map which was promulgated by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and signed into law by the immediate past Governor, a statement which the former Lawmaker described as a baseless call for executive rascality and wondered if Akpabio could give such advice to President Bola Tinubu on a law passed by the National Assembly.

The letter also condemned Senator Akpabio for his claims on Qua River Hotel in Eket, and accused him of neglecting Eket throughout his eight years as governor, noting that the concern for Eket by Akpabio is suspicious.

Chief Nduese Essien pointed out that as Commissioner in the State Executive Council at the time, Akpabio was involved in selling off the flourishing hotel in Eket for a paltry 50 million naira, while embarking on other hotels like Ibom Tropicana Hotel, Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, without completing them in his administration.

Chief Nduese Essien also pointed out with dismay, the recent statement made by the Senate President concerning the location of ExxonMobil where he told Oron leaders that the office was to be sited in Oron but politics made it to be taken to Eket. Chief Essien stated that as at the time the decision was taken to site the ExxonMobil office, Senator Godswill Akpabio was five years old hence had no idea how and why that decision was taken adding that his recent romance with the Oro people is aimed at inciting divisive sentiments among the peace loving people of the state.

Chief Essien who saw Akpabio as one attempting to create instability as a political tool to further his 2027 ambition of capturing the entire State for APC, queried that if Akpabio loved Oron like he wants to paint, he would have made them produce a Governor to succeed him in 2015 when he had the opportunity.

Chief Essien also cautioned the Senate President to concentrate with national politics and find a way of getting the country out of its current predicament, urging him to shelve his alleged plans of “forcefully taking over the state in 2027”.

Chief Essien acknowledged that Akpabio has been his political ally, and that their relationship has been mutually beneficial.

He drew the attention of the Senate President to the successes recorded by the National Assembly of the 1999- 2007 era, and therefore, advised his former political ally to channel his energy more towards building a strong economy for Nigeria, noting that Akpabio can only achieve that by "talking less, listening more to his colleagues and feeling the pulse of Nigerians."

We have pondered on the frivolous, deceitful, misleading and inciting statements made by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President during a recent church thanksgiving service hosted by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, at the All Nations Christian Church in Eket on Sunday, February 11. At that event, Akpabio lied before God, lied on the pulpit and lied before a cross section of the State

Senator Akpabio deliberately came for the programme few minutes to the end of the church service, an act he has mastered over the years since his days as Governor of Akwa Ibom State. We are not particularly worried that he intentionally arrived late, disrupting the service, causing protocol breach and undermining Governor Umo Eno, who had to punctuate his address and wait for several minutes, for the late comer to dance in and greet everyone before taking his seat. We are only aghast that Akpabio was later to open old wounds on the sensibilities of the people of Eket when we listened with disdain, to the frivolous, deceitful, misleading and inciting statement made by Senate President of Nigeria especially on the abandoned moribund Qua River Hotel in Eket.

Chief among his lies was that he had re-purchased the Qua River Hotel, which had previously been sold to a private firm in 2001 by the then Governor Victor Attah administration, and that he had gone ahead to design a 16 Storey Hotel for the present location of Qua River Hotel for Eket people.
Even if Akpabio does have any regards for Eket, like we know he does not as clearly shown in his eight years of governorship of Akwa Ibom State, he should have at least feared God and scrutinize the lies he gushed out from the pulpit.

Nothing could be so untrue like Akpabio's gospel of Qua River Hotel. Amusingly, Akpabio is now pretending to love Eket people. That is just a product of the guilt that he has had to fight with and suppressed over the years. That was simply his style of confession, and speaks volume of a guilty conscience. Perhaps Akpabio feels that Eket people have very limited retentive memory when he himself is the one whose memory needs to be recalibrated.

Let us therefore remind Akpabio that at the QIC Primary School, Usung Inyang Eket in March 2007 when he visited Eket to seek for votes as the PDP Governorship Candidate, he made bold to promise several things: the building of a new stadium in Eket, revamping of the ailing Qua River Hotel and resurrecting the Qua Steel Factory. He also promised Eket - Ibeno Road and Eket-Etinan Road among others.
He clearly said, “I know you want Eket Sports Stadium, I can assure you, I can assure you and I can assure you.
“You want the Qua River Hotel, I can assure you I can assure you and I can assure you…” It had since been confirmed that Akpabio in 2007 was basically listing all what he will never do for Eket people; and he showed undiluted fidelity to the pledge to neglect Eket as if he swore to an affidavit to do just that. He did none after eight years. This is why we condemn his open mockery on Eket after such heartless treatment? Oh what an audacity to add salt to injury.

Our happiness is that God has been passing through succeeding administrations to give Eket what Akpabio vehemently opposed and denied the area. It was only after the Senate President left office in 2015 as Governor that infrastructural reforms were witnessed in Eket, despite its strategic status as headquarters of Eket senatorial district.

All of the music of uncommon transformation that rocked the airwaves throughout his eight year tenure had no echo throughout Eket land as no major road was constructed beyond ground breaking stage. We have now seen the construction and in dual form, the Eket - Ibeno Road, Eket - Etinan Road all the way to Uyo and the remodeling of Eket into an urban standard. We now see how it feels to have roundabouts with water fountains and amphi theatre. Sporting life has resurrected in the area with the ultra modern sports facility. We know those who truly love Eket and Akpabio is not one of them.

His comments on the pulpit in Eket soil, which came very few days after he swore openly to his party stalwarts that he will make sure he captures the governorship seat in Akwa Ibom State for APC in 2027, aptly confirms our suspicions that this is just another of his political antics and never a sign of love for Eket people.

When he had the yam and the knife as Governor, Akpabio knew that besides Uyo which already had a Five Star Hotel on Nwaniba Road, the next city in Akwa Ibom State that justifiably needed a five star hotel and other amenities was Eket, a part of the State where the vast natural wealths of the country emanate. But he ignored his conscience then and rather built a 12 Storey hotel in Uyo few poles from an existing 10th Anniversary Hotel started by the Joseph Adeusi administration, and took the third one to Ikot Ekpene. Where does such a man still hide his face to come and talk about the importance of a Hotel and other developments in Eket?

On the establishment of tertiary institutions, during his tenure, he had the opportunity of fulfilling the longstanding dream of Eket’s forebears when the federal government dangled him an opportunity to host a Federal Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom. He rather took it to his backyard in Ukana, when Eket was willing to avail him of better facilities at Afaha Eket. Eket was not also worthy of any of the campuses of the State University which he established as Governor.

During that service at All Nations Christian Church, Akpabio also accused the Governor of taking his thanksgiving to his own church. As if addressing his Personal Aide, he told the Governor, “as Governor, you are a member of all churches. Next time go to Apostolic, Mount Zion or other churches for thanksgiving.” Does he forget that on Sunday September 24,2023, Pastor Umo Eno had hosted the State Anniversary thanksgiving service at The Apostolic Church, Obio Imo street in Uyo. At that event which he came late as usual, Akpabio clearly told Governor Eno to discountenance the Akwa Ibom State Map, duly enacted by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and signed into law by the immediate past administration. Why would a lawfully approved Map of the State pain Senator Akpabio, if not because it afforded Eket the opportunity of reclaiming its ancestral land and property?

That is why we vehemently condemn his unguarded utterances at the church in Eket. We witnessed how he took turns to attack everyone he could recognize from the lectern; from the former Deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo to the current deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi and even the director general of the Umo Eno Campaign Organisation, Chief Assam Assam, SAN. This was even after he had cleared his throat by saying that he was not going to abuse people that day, as if the duty of the senate president is to abuse people from the pulpit. Senator Akon Eyakenyi was a Commissioner in the State Executive Council when Akpabio himself was made commissioner, but that is the same person Akpabio would say had never been to Abuja until he made her Minister. “The first time your deputy Akon Eyakenyi ever set foot in Abuja to know where the federal capital territory is located, was when I sent her to be a Minister”. I was the one who brought Moses Ekpo back from US and made him deputy Governor but throughout his tenure in 8years, he never invited me for a state function in my own State”. What manner of blatant lies and reckless statements.

While we cannot change him at this stage of his life, we want to let Akpabio know that his counsel to the Governor on Qua River Hotel is respectfully unsolicited as it was wrapped in falsehood. During his tenure, Senator Akpabio made no effort to recover the Qua River hotel from EKPOUDIA ENTERPRISE that had acquired it in 2001. Eket people had since taken their destiny in their hands and commenced processes of revoking the contract deal on the hotel through a motion by the member representing Eket in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Dr Nsidibe Akata. The House of Assembly is in the process of legally empowering the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to revoke and reclaim the project and build a standard hotel for Eket. Why would such a resolution have been needed if at all Akpabio’s Government had re-purchased the hotel from the private owners as he lied in his gospel of lies?

So, suddenly, Eket now deserves such attention? Akpabio is waking up late in the night; he shunned us in the morning, afternoon and evening. This late night interest is suspicious and curious, and we reject it with the alertness a night action deserves. If he wants to steal the glory when eventually the rights to the project is revoked, remodeled and put to use. He has failed once again.

Akpabio is a wrong person to advise Governor Umo Eno on what to do for Eket people; Akpabio cannot be more Catholic than the Pope, Akpabio cannot cry our cry for us.

Good enough, we have a listening leader in Governor Umo Eno, who does not allow ethnic sentiments or other mundane trivialities to put a wedge between him and his plans for the people. We trust that the humble Man of God in the helms of Akwa Ibom State affairs, will build an ultra modern Hotel complex for Eket, he will expand on its infrastructure and will afford us more government presence through industries, a tertiary institution and other infrastructure to enable our local government reclaim its past glory as ‘Idung Mfianwe’.

For the umpteenth time, we urge Senator Godswill Akpabio to leave Eket alone. He did not like us yesterday, he cannot like us today. We are not interested in his cosmetic love.


COMRADE SAMUEL UBOKUDOM
COORDINATOR
Ekid Nation Interest Forum

Serious intrigues and game of wits have taken over the 10th Senate following the passage and signing of the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

Senators are said to be angered by the leadership style of the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, especially with the way he handled the distribution of projects in the 2024 budget. Akpabio had claimed that the budget was prepared by the appropriation chairman and majority leader with the presidency and delivered to him for passage. He claimed he had no contribution to the budget and shouldn’t be called names he doesn’t deserve.

A Northern lawmaker in the Senate who pleaded not to be named told our correspondent that Akpabio’s poor leadership, highhandedness and greed are the issues most senators are angry with him.

“The Senate is still divided. That is the honest truth. We are divided by Akpabio’s poor leadership and greed. How can the Senate President be praying for the failure of his fellow lawmakers. He took everything in budget without carrying us along. It has never be done in the history of the senate. This is pure greed from Akpabio, and I want Nigerians to know that we are not happy with Akpabio. We should have what to report back to our constituency in 2027; he cannot take everything alone, it is greed,” he lamented.

Last week, Akpabio faced criticism as he was accused of consistently violating the official starting time of the Senate plenary sessions.

According to the Senate Standing Rule, plenary sessions should commence at 10 a.m. every legislative day, but Akpabio’s habitual alleged tardiness has become a concern for senators and observers alike.

The recent observation by Premium Times indicates that the plenary sessions, which are supposed to start at 10 a.m., have consistently begun later due to Akpabio’s delayed arrival.

According to the report, this breach of the Senate Rules has raised eyebrows among senators, with some expressing their concerns privately about the extended waiting time.

The Senate Standing Rule, specifically Rule 8 sub-section (2), mandates the Senate to meet at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

However, a review of the Senate’s recent sittings reveals that the plenary sessions rarely commence at the stipulated time. Akpabio’s lateness to plenary sessions is said to have been a recurring issue since he assumed the position in June.

The situation has led to disruptions in the schedules of Senate committees, forcing them to postpone crucial meetings due to the extended duration of plenary sessions.

Despite the concerns raised by senators and the breach of the official rule, there has been no official statement or action from the Senate regarding Akpabio’s habitual tardiness.

The report noted that Akpabio’s penchant for arriving late to official functions dates back to his tenure as the governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 and his subsequent role as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022.

A lawmaker from the Southwest region who preferred anonymity attested to Akpabio’s habit of keeping officials and dignitaries waiting for extended periods without apologies, describing it as insulting and demeaning.

“His consistent tardiness not only violates established rules but also reflects a lack of discipline and commitment to the responsibilities of the Senate President. He does them without being remorseful, and it is insulting and demeaning to any rational person irrespective of party affiliations.

“If he is seeing this, the Senate President must stop treating us like his children. Let him wake up before it is too late. This is not Students Union Government (SUG), but the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are already fed up with his style of leadership. We are respecting our father and leader, who is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, if not for him, Akpabio would have been removed long time ago.”

Few months ago, the United States of America (USA) chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), called on the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to resign from office over what it called his lackluster handling of the affairs of the upper legislative chamber.

The Executive Director of NADECO USA, Mr Lloyd Ukwu, Esq., made the call in a statement released to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday morning.

Ugwu also called on Senators to urgently commence impeachment proceedings against Akpabio for allegedly making the upper chamber a laughing stock through naivety, immaturity and eagerness to please the executive, irrespective of the repercussions of his actions on the Senate as an institution and democratic governance in Nigeria.

The Coalition noted that Akpabio, who was planted as Senate President by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has completely subjugated his colleagues under the executive arm of governance and eroded the independence and integrity of the legislature in Nigeria.

The group accused Akpabio of
showing absolute disdain for the Standing Rules of the Senate as regards the order of proceedings, vibrant debates during plenary and thorough scrutiny of executive communications and Bills.

According to the pro-democracy group, Akpabio often resume plenaries late and unduly extend the time of sitting, a situation which is tiresome to Senators but which they are forced to stomach.

He noted that in the order paper for the day, Akpabio’s first assignment is to take the opening prayers, call for approval of votes and proceedings of the previous sitting, administer oaths if any and make announcement (if any) before calling for petitions.

Ukwu said: “However, Akpabio is fond of keeping communications from the President which are supposed to be read during announcement time till the end of plenary like he recently did when he announced the last three ministerial nominees by the President towards the tail end of plenary.

“Only recently, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) and Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (SDP – Nasarawa South) openly accused Akpabio of not giving Senators adequate opportunity to interrogate and scrutinize bills, especially money bills, and warned that history would judge him for approving executive requests and passing important legislations posthaste.

“Akpabio has equally showed lack of empathy for poor and suffering Nigerian masses when he recently turned a ‘let Nigerians breathe’ comment by a Senator into a pun which attracted a mocking laughter from his colleagues during plenary.

“For fear of being impeached, he recently caused an amendment to be made to the Senate Standing Rules to the effect that no first term Senator is qualified to vie for the position of presiding officer, a move which clearly violates relevant sections of the constitution which confers powers on Senators to freely choose presiding officers at their first sitting irrespective of ranking.

“He also rallies Senators to pass bills they have not seen or may never see the details. Above all, he treats and relates with Senators with disrespect like errand boys even as he continues to wear his former toga as the executive governor and dictator in Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo.”

NADECO USA insisted that Akpabio, who earlier contested the presidential primary election of the APC in 2022, was not fit to be Senate President of Nigeria at this material time.

He insisted that should Akpabio fail to resign or Senators fail to impeach him, NADECO USA would have no option than to mobilise its members in USA and Nigerians in diaspora for a mass action to ensure that he vacates office.

He said: “NADECO USA has received several petitions against Akpabio and his subservient leadership style as President of the 10th Senate.

“Therefore we are ready to take necessary actions to ensure that the US parliament and other parliaments across the world would henceforth not consider the Nigerian Senate under Akpabio as a serious and responsible institution.

“We will also use our reach, influence and powers to lobby to ensure that the 10th Senate under Akpabio is not accorded due recognition within the international community.

“It is regrettable that since assumption of office, Akpabio has converted the National Assembly into an annex of the Presidential Villa.

“He has connived with the executive to approve loans and other adverse requests without following due process or allowing Senators to adequately make germane input through robust debate.”


Source: https://naijagg.com/rumble-in-senate-over-akpabios-poor-leadership-high-handedness-greed/

"Sabiu Yusuf aka Tunde, an aide to former President Mohammadu Buhari, who has several Billions of Dollars in cash warehoused in different mansions in Abuja and Daura, Kastina state, an planning to escape from Nigeria if settlement agreement with the Bola Tinubu’s Government is not reached.

"The Federal Investigator headed by Jim Obazee had traced about $75billion crude oil funds not remitted to the Federation’s account for nearly seven years to the trio of Yusuf, a former Attorney General, Abubakar Malami and Mamma Daura, a relation former President Buhari.

"Out that amount, Yusuf has bulk of them in cash kept in several houses unoccupied in Abuja and Daura from which they are negotiating to return $30billion," Jackson Ude said on Tuesday.

"Insiders told me that as at today, Yusuf started making plans to move the cash in his possession running into several Billions of Dollars to Morocco. His front, AA Rano is said to have identified some Banks in Morocco and UAE where the funds can be moved to.

"A house belonging to Yusuf directly opposite Buhari’s in Daura is alleged to be filled with cash running into several Billions in Dollars. The house is guarded by six stern looking and armed security guards.

"Yusuf is said to be planning to leave through Niger Republic and from there to Dubai and then London where a UK lawyer is said to have been hired to prepare the grounds to help him seek asylum in that country," Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/buharis-aide-sabiu-yusuf-planning-escape-from-nigeria-to-move-billions-to-morocco-uae-saudi-arabia-jackson-ude/

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has described the recent withdrawal of three member states comprising the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu as a national disgrace and shame to Nigeria.

He said the inability of Tinubu to peacefully resolve the lingering issues leading to the exit of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the regional body does not bode well for the leadership roles his predecessors have played in keeping the subregion united and peaceful.

“Whether Tinubu likes it or not, he met the 15-member regional group established about 49 years ago intact when he assumed the reins of leadership as chairman in July 2023. But history will record that things fell apart during his ineffectual, riderless and neglectful stewardship in less than seven months,” Frank declared.

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger had last Sunday announced their immediate breakaway from the ECOWAS and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States.”

The regimes have been having fractured ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020 as they have been struggling with jihadist violence and poverty.

The three regimes were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions but they had maintained their hard-line positions in recent months.

Frank in his reaction to the withdrawal said the buck should stop at the table of President Tinubu who is the present chairman of the body for failing to use his position to foster peace through effective dialogue but rather had maintained a hardline stance including a botched attempt to spearhead the use of arms to restore democracy in Niger.

Frank said: “Since assuming office as President of Nigeria, Tinubu has demonstrated his lack of nuanced understanding of regional politics and empathy for poor and suffering Nigerians - his primary constituency.

“No man can give what he does not have. His poor leadership of the regional body has led to its ongoing disintegration just as it has brought untold hardship upon Nigerians.

Your inexperience and that of those handling the economy has destroyed our economy.
Investors have refused to come into the Region and particularly in Nigeria as they are seen pulling out of Nigeria on a daily basis .

“For instance, Tinubu met the exchange rate of Naira to Dollar at about N600 to a dollar but today it is about N1,500 to a dollar.

“Besides, his knee-jerk removal of fuel subsidy has further impoverished Nigerians with people finding it difficult to feed or afford skyrocketing transport fares.

“Above all, insecurity is on the increase with the nation’s capital - FCT - and other parts of the country rendered increasingly unsafe by incessant kidnappings and gruesome killings.

“How can a man who has not been able to secure and ensure peace in his house be counted upon to provide leadership to a politically, culturally and religiously diverse 15 sovereign nations?

“Today Tinubu is destroying ECOWAS just like he is doing to Nigeria. Tinubu has introduced regionalism into the governance of Nigeria.

“His latest move which must be rejected and resisted by all is to move the nation’s capital back to Lagos through the back by relocating key government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos. Injustice cannot but breed discontent and disunity.”

He called on President Tinubu to retrace his hasty steps and toxic economic policies both as chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria and equally to ensure that the powers entrusted to him do not ruin the country and the subregion socially, politically and economically.

To say the least, you won’t be on private visit when your house is burning.The right thing to do was to come back home immediately and have an emergency meeting in furtherance of your resignation as ECOWAS chairman, if you has any iota of shame left .
It is insensitive and a glaring sign of incompetence.

He further called on the President to seek advice from former Nigerian Presidents who also acted as chairmen of ECOWAS on how to lead Nigeria and the subregional body.


Source: https://naijagg.com/withdrawal-of-mali-niger-burkina-faso-from-ecowas-under-tinubus-watch-shameful-says-timi-frank/

"The $30billion being negotiated to be returned to Federal coffers by the Jim Obazee committee, is from the $75billion crude oil money that was stolen by the trio of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Mamman Daura and a personal assistant to former President Mohammadu Buhari, Sabiu Yusuf aka Tunde," Jackson Ude said on X.

"The looted $75billion is said to be part of a $100.5billion proceeds from crude oil signed off by former President Buhari who was also Petroleum Minister which was never remitted to the Federation Account," Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/only-30billion-of-stolen-75billion-oil-money-to-be-returned-jackson-ude/

"Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Delta Governor, James Ibori, were negotiating for $500Million as commission from the $30billion traced to Sabiu Yusuf aka Tunde,a former aide to former President Mohammadu Buhari.

"Jim Obazee, the Special Investigator appointed by Tinubu who traced the humongous funds is livid at the greedy demands by Gbajabiamila and Ibori. Ibori has told Gbajabiamila that they would have to find a way to bypass Obazee and negotiate a soft landing for Yusuf so they can get the $500million commission," Jackson Ude said.

"This is a developing story. Watch out for more!" Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/gbajabiamila-ibori-want-500million-as-commission-from-30billion-looted-funds-traced-to-buharis-aide-jackson-ude/

"Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila is alleged to have been negotiating a huge percentage from a $30billion and 66 properties traced to Sabiu Yusuf, an aide to former President Mohammadu Buhari.

"The deal is said to have caught the attention of Tinubu who with many other allegations against his chief of staff, has decided to place him on a security watch while a discreet investigation is carried out on him.
Gbajabiamila has turned out to be Nigeria’s most corrupt Chief of Staff any President has ever had, collecting billions in bribe from appointment seeking politicians," Jackson Ude said.

"While working as a Lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, Gbajabiamila stole $20k belonging to his client and fled to Nigeria. He has since been debarred from practicing law in the State of Georgia," Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/femi-gbajabiamila-caught-negotiating-a-percentage-from-30billion-66-properties-traced-to-buharis-aide-sabiu-yusuf-jackson-ude/

"Abubakar Isa Funutua, son of late Isa Funtua, and his Ugandan businesses associate, Asega Aliga, both looted N28billion from Keystone Bank and fled Nigeria. While Abubakar is said to have moved to Spain where his estimated to worth $300million in cash and properties, Aliga is said to the hiding in Uganda. The two rogues also shuttle around the UK.

"The duo used 13 companies dubiously formed companies to collect Agricultural loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under Godwin Emefiele and have since paid only N7billion before they decided to go into hiding.

"The shell companies used are: STEFEM AGRICULTURE NIG LTD, MIDDLEEMARSH FARM LTD, AGRICULTURAL DERIVATIVES LTD., CHARIS2014 GLOBAL LTD, IKEEZ AGRO ALLIED RESOURCES LTD., PIERS ON AGRO-ALLIED, WHOLEFOODS PROCESSING LTD, TENACO FARMS AND FOOD NIG LTD, HOUSE OF ESHCOL LTD, MAHVECK GLOBAL CONCEPT LTD, ESTIM FARMS LTD, WILLYMONIA INT, HARGRIK AGRO INVESTMENT LTD," Jackson Ude said on Monday.

"Soon after Isa Funtua died, Emefiele had asked Abubakar to return to site and complete the N30billion CBN Car Parking Extension contract awarded to Bulet Construction. Abubakar refused. Emefiele also demanded repayment of the Agricultural loans collected. Again, Abubakar refused. The former CBN Governor then debited Keystone Bank where Abubakar and Aliga own majority shares, the sum of N28billion being the total loan sum collected.
Informants at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC confirmed to me that soon after the investigation of Keystone Bank, it was discovered that Abubakar and Aliga had used fronts to set up another company called Seltrix Nigeria Limited, where most of the N28billion collected from the CBN as Agric loans were warehoused. Only about N4billion is now left in Seltrix account.

"Keystone Bank can no longer recover their money because the companies used to obtain those loans only exist on papers.

"It is the same model Abubakar and Aliga used in collecting $251million loan from AFREXIM to acquire 9mobile, using Teleology/Emerging Market. 9Mobile has now been taken over by AFREXIM after Abubakar and Aliga and their Emergin Market refused pay back," Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/late-isa-funtuas-son-abubakar-his-ugandan-associate-asega-on-the-run-after-stealing-n28billion-jackson-ude/

"In a desperate bid to hide funds stolen from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Aminu Yaro and his wife, Sa’addatu Yaro, used Fatima Ramallan, the daughter of late General Hassan Usman Katsina to launder N6billion using April 1616 Investment Limited and Amsamay Limited with accounts in Zenith Bank.

"Curiously, after spending some times at the DSS detention, Aminu and Sa’addatu were released under a dubious and improper plea bargain that also had senior officials of the DSS and the Presidency collecting BillIons in bribe. As it turns out, the notoriously corrupt and greedy Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is fingered as the Presidency official who was part of the bribe to free the looting husband and wife," Jackson Ude said on Friday.

"The couples are currently in hiding as questions continue to be raised as to why the Government continue to treat criminals and looters with kid gloves.

"Ramalan-Yaro’s April 1616, on July 3, 2020 deposited N1,050,000,000 in its Zenith Bank account. April 1616, between 2017 and 2021 in Lagos received a deposit of N42,578,881,137 deposited into the same Zenith Bank account.

"Amsaymay Limited, the fourth company, between October 12 and November 28, 2020, in Lagos, allegedly retained the sum of N1,417,198,232 in its Zenith Bank account," Jackson Ude further said.


Source: https://naijagg.com/how-aminu-and-saaddatu-yaro-laundered-n6billion-bribed-gbajabiamila-dss-officials-to-go-free-jackson-ude/